Richard Ostler – Special to the Record-Bee
LOWER LAKE ? The Avenue of Flags, the main road through the Lower Lake Cemetery, was once again resplendent with American flags for this Memorial Day.
Joel Moore, vice president of the group that organizes the Avenue of Flags effort each year, stated the number of flags utilized for the event grows every year.
Moore, a local contractor, attributes the success of the flag exhibition to Boy Scout Troop 44 and their steadfast willingness to volunteer each year to erect the flags. The scouts were under the direction of Russ Perdock.
While the display of the flags was taking place, members of the American Legion, Post 437, “40 and 8” group, assisted by VFW Post 2337, searched for the grave sites of veterans and placed small American flags at each site. Hundreds of flags were so placed in honor of their brethren.
Following the placing of the flags, Legion Adjutant Dennis Alexander assembled the visitors and veterans to hear Father Ron of the Queen of Peace Catholic Church confer his blessings upon the ceremony and then former Clearlake Mayor Bob Malley offered a rousing and patriotic speech outlining the history of Memorial Day.
The highlight of the event was when the United Veterans Council”s Military Funeral Honors Team fired a customary 21-gun salute and played Taps. The solemn ritual, which brought tears to the eyes of more than a few participants, was rendered with military precision. The team”s commander, Rich Feiro, reported that the unit has received the award for best honor guard in California.
Probably the most poignant event of the day occurred as the Honor Guard was performing. A young girl unfurled a Navy banner, holding it wide for all to see. As she displayed it, it was obvious her heart was swelling with pride even as her eyes swelled with tears of respect and love.
When asked, the girl, Sarah Leake, speaking through her tears, explained that she was honoring her “Grampa, a 20-year Navy veteran of Korea and Vietnam.”
Sarah”s “Grampa,” Norman Davis, recently passed, yet remains forever with us in Sarah”s heart, symbolic of what Memorial Day is all about.
Richard Ostler is the incoming 2006-07 commander for American Legion Post 437.
